Environment

One in five Mekong River fish face extinction: report

Bangkok, Mar 4 (EFE).- One in five fish species in the Mekong River, one of the most diverse in the world, are in danger of extinction, according to a report published Monday by more than 20 environmental organizations.

At 4,880 kilometers long and crossing six Asian countries (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), the Mekong is home to some 1,150 recognized species of fish and is key to the subsistence of tens of millions of people.

However, the construction of dams, sand mining, poor management of the fishing sector, loss of habitat and the introduction of invasive species, among other threats, are putting the ecosystem at risk, environmentalists said.

“The alarming decline in fish populations in the Mekong is an urgent wake-up call for action to save these extraordinary – and extraordinarily important – species, which underpin not only the region’s societies and economies but also the health of the Mekong’s freshwater ecosystems,” said Lan Mercado, WWF Asia-Pacific regional director.

Mekong species under threat include two of the world’s largest catfish (weighing up to 300 kilos), the world’s largest carp, and the giant freshwater stingray.

“These fishes have swum through our civilizations and cultures for millenia and millions of people still depend on them every day. But overlooked by decision makers, they are disappearing. We must act now to reverse this disastrous trend because the communities and countries of the Mekong cannot afford to lose them,” Mercado added.

The study, in which 25 regional and international organizations participated, indicates that at least 19 percent of assessed species in the river are heading towards extinction, including 18 fish species already classified as “critically endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.

They also said that the number of species at risk is “likely far higher” due to the lack of research and publicly available data on 38 percent of species.

“It’s clear that we are risking a new biodiversity crisis for the Mekong River basin. But it’s not too late,” said Herman Wanningen, managing director of the World Fish Migration Foundation.

The group urged greater commitment from nations bordered by the Mekong in the protection and restoration of the river ecosystem, such as increasing the river’s natural flow, improving water quality and ending unsustainable exploitation of resources, among other recommendations. EFE

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